Police suspect arson in hearth at Wyoming abortion clinic web site

Police imagine an overnight hearth in Wyoming that damaged a constructing being renovated to deal with a new abortion clinic was deliberately set

By

MEAD GRUVER Associated Press

Could 25, 2022, 3:57 PM ET

• 2 min read

CASPER, Wyo. -- An abortion clinic set to open next month in conservative Wyoming was damaged in a hearth early Wednesday that police believe was deliberately set — possibly by somebody seen working away from the building carrying what appeared to be a gasoline can and a bag.

The blaze damaged the inside of the building underneath renovation to house the clinic in Casper, the second-biggest metropolis in a state where opposition to abortion is widespread.

The clinic, which additionally planned to supply different well being care services for women, had been set to open in June as solely the second place in the state to offer abortions. Wyoming’s present lone location for girls to get abortions is at a hospital in Jackson, 281 miles (452 kilometers) away.

An individual who called authorities before dawn noticed somebody operating from the constructing with what seemed to be a fuel can and a black bag, police stated in a Fb submit. Investigators have been reviewing video footage from the area in hopes of figuring out the suspect or producing a suspect description, police mentioned. No injuries had been reported.

Julie Burkhart, the clinic’s director, mentioned clinic organizers had been receiving harassing emails and phone messages. The constructing had video cameras that had been functioning, and police got access to them, she stated.

“Whether or not you’re in opposition to abortion or support abortion rights, you’re not going to make abortion go away,” stated Burkhart, a former associate of Dr. George Tiller, an abortion provider who was shot and killed in a Wichita, Kansas, church in 2009.

Protests have been held this spring by abortion opponents on the future clinic site, and signs opposing abortion had been seen Wednesday in a window of an residence next door to the building.

Wyoming is one in all 13 U.S. states with a so-called trigger legislation that may instantly outlaw abortion if the Roe v. Wade decision that legalized it nationwide is overturned by the U.S. Supreme Courtroom. A leaked draft of a ruling suggests that may occur soon.

Police briefly closed off the street the place the small building is located as officers investigated. Several of the constructing's windows have been broken, and smoke injury was visible round one shattered window.